Dust collector for mops



April 14, 1936. E, MORGAN 2,037,427

DUS 'I COLLECTOR FOR MOPS Filed Aug. 29, 1955 x j i 4 I I a El /3 /4 ll 7 /0 i! a =5 v Inventor fiz'zzzzz'aZT/Yaryam,

I Attorney Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an unique household or domestic accessory for convenient use in the home to expedite relieving dry mops of loose dirt, dust and lint, the device being'conveniently entitled a dust collector.

conversant as I am with the general state of the prior art to which the invention relates I am called upon to say, by way of introduction, that I am aware that'portable dust collecting receptacles and containers have been perfected to aid in cleaning so-called dry mops. Then too, I have ascertained that it is admittedly old in this line of endeavor to provide internal means in a dust trapping receptacle to provide appropriate obstruction and baflie elements to expedite dislodging the loose dirt and dust from the strands of the mop head.

It goes without saying, therefore, that my primary aim is to generally improve upon these known structures by providing one which is structurally distinct and characterized by well directed and appreciable refinements and improvements assembled to permit the desired result to be more satisfactorily attained.

Since the invention involves the special adaptation of a suitable handle equipped bucket like receptacle, and as it is desirable to agitate and otherwise bodily move the mop head while enclosed in said receptacle, one feature is predicated upon the adoption and use of a slidable dust collecting drawer having associated therewith an openwork grid to facilitate shaking the dust and dirt from the mop head into the drawer for convenient withdrawal and disposition of the contents.

In conjunction with the aforesaid advantage and auxiliary thereto is the incorporation in the structure of a non-collapsible accordion like wall construction wherein the corrugations thereof define rubbing ribs to dislodge articles of dirt when the mop head is reciprocated in contact therewith.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawing.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like details or parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is. a. vertical sectional view through 50 a mop shaking and cleaning device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view through the lower portion of the structure illustrating the grid cooperable with the dust collecting drawer.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the complete device.

The receptacle, which is in a sense an enclosure or housing to accommodate the mop, is denoted as a unit by the numeral 4. This is here shown as in the form of a substantially rectangular box or casing and may be made of light weight metal or other durable material. It is obviously of suitable proportion and may be varied in shape. The various walls of the receptacle are corrugated to form the intermediate noncollapsible accordion-like dust loosening means. The corrugations 5 define inwardly projecting V-shaped ribs 6. These project sufficiently into the receptacle to permit the mop head I to conveniently come into contact therewith as the stick 8 is reciprocated vertically. The lower portion of the receptacle indicated at 9 forms a dust and dirt trapping chamber. Slidably mounted in this is an appropriately proportioned dust collecting drawer or pan Hi. It will be observed that this has a convenient knob II to permit it to be slid in or out. Moreover the opposed side walls are formed with channels I2 which serve as guides for slidable reception of the frame strips I 3 carrying the spaced parallel triangular beater members M. It is to be observed that the beater members [4 are assembled so that they occupy positions parallel to each other with their apex portions disposed upwardly and located in a plane with each other. This coordination of features forms a unit which may be referred to as a slidable dirt loosening grid. It is evident also that the beater members cooperate with the aforesaid V-shaped ribs 6 in such a way that the grid may be depended on for the principal dirt-loosening action, or may be used in conjunction with said ribs 6 in proper progressive order. By taking the stick between the palms of the hands and oscillating it alternately in opposite directions the fibers strike the members l4 and this aids in dropping the dirt and dust and lint into the drawer It. Moreover by working the stick or handle of the mop up and down in an obvious reciprocatory manner, and by scraping the strands of the mop head against the ribs 6, this will serve to further loosen the lint and dirt, permitting it to drop down into the drawer. Consequently, by pulling the drawer out and sliding the grid out from the channels l2 sufiiciently the dirt from the drawer can be emptied in a trash bag or other depository.

The upper part of the receptacle comprises a stationary half-section l5 cooperable with a hinged half-section Hi this being hinged as at I! with spring means I8 associated with the hinge. maintain the section It; in alinement with the section l5 so as to provide a sectional top for the receptacle. The section l6 may be either swung in or out to permit the mop to be inserted readily while the mop handle works through the properly edged opening [9. The numeral 20 designates a suitable carrying bail or handle. The numeral 2| designates foot lugs attached to the bottom of the casing to facilitate holding it in place while the operation is being carried on.

Briefly all that is necessary to clean the mop is to place it in position in the casing as shown in dotted lines in Figure l. The hinged top section l6 facilitates this entry and removal of the mop. As before indicated the-mop can be worked up and down to strike the fibers'of the head lagainst the ribs 6 and can be twirled around to strike the same fibers against the triangular baffles M. In other words the mop head can be properly agitated to best advantage in order to loosen the dirt, dust and other extraneous matter. This waste material is deposited in the drawer Ill and the drawer is pulled out and emptied whenever necessary or desired.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawing. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of inven- The spring means serves to normally tion claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, an enclosure adapted to accommodate and permit a conventional dry mop head to be agitated therein in a substantially dustproof manner, a dust collecting drawer slidably mounted therein, and an open work grid slidably connected with the open top portion of said drawer.

2. In a device of the class described, an enclosure adapted to accommodate and permit a conventional dry mop head to be agitated and twirled therein in a, substantially dust-proof manner, a dust-collecting drawer slidably mounted in the lower portion of said enclosure, and an openwork grid slidably connected with the open-top portion of said drawer, said grid comprising a frame structure and a plurality of spaced parallel beater members, said beater members being of triangular form and having their apex portions directed upwardly toward the entrance opening of the enclosure and arranged in a plane with each other.

3. As a component part of a structural assemblage of the class described, a dust collecting drawer adapted to be slidably mounted in a substantially dustproof housing, said drawer being provided with guide channels disposed in spaced parallelism, and a grid slidably mounted in said channels and including a series of spaced parallel substantially triangular dust and dirt loosening beater members.

MINNIE E. MORGAN. 

